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In general, copyright is a form of legal protection given to content creators through the assignment of specific rights to works that qualify for protection.

The main goals of copyright are

  • To encourage the development of culture, science, and innovation
  • To provide a financial benefit to copyright holders for their works
  • To facilitate access to knowledge and entertainment for the public.

Copyright provides a framework for relationships between the different players in the content industries, as well as for relationships between rightsholders and the consumers of content. Copyright is a form of Intellectual Property, along with trademarks and patents in all countries, and other creations (such as trade secrets, database rights, rights of publicity, and the like) that may vary from country to country.

Global copyright

Copyright is a creation of law in each country, and therefore there is no such thing as an international copyright law. Nevertheless, nearly 180 countries have ratified a treaty – the Berne Convention, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – that sets a minimum set of standards for the protection of the rights of the creators of copyrighted works around the world.

In addition, there have been efforts to harmonize copyright law in Europe and other regions. The differences in national copyright laws, however, can represent a challenge for global organizations with employees working in different countries and sharing content across boundaries.

For more information, continue reading or download our infographic on international copyright basics.

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